Talent Leaders Are Gathering at Ceipal Connect 2026.

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Join us at Ceipal Connect, the staffing and recruiting industry's premier virtual event. Gain invaluable insights, strategies, and connections to ensure you're staying ahead of the competition. Choose from three tracks: Staffing & Enterprise Recruitment, Healthcare Staffing & Recruiting, and GCC Enablement.

March 5, 2026

10 AM - 12:15 PM IST (Staffing & GCC)

&

9 AM - 1 PM ET (Healthcare)

5,000
+
Registered
2
Tracks
25
+
Speakers

Ceipal

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Connect 2026
Ready to shape the future of talent?
Join us at Ceipal Connect, the staffing and recruiting industry's premier virtual event. Gain invaluable insights, strategies, and connections to ensure you're staying ahead of the competition.
virtual
March 5, 2026
Impact

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The numbers speak for themselves

Speaker
40
+
Total event
15
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Years of Experience
12
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Design Awards

Connect Tracks

Staffing, Enterprise Recruitment & GCC Enablement
What does it take to hire—and lead—through volatility? Move beyond reactive recruiting to build resilient, intelligence-led hiring models that hold up in uncertain markets. Hear how leading organizations are evolving Global Capability Centers from cost centers to strategic growth engines, and what it takes to win on talent in the next generation of GCCs.

10 AM IST | CEO Welcome Address

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Divya Agarwal opens Ceipal Connect 2026 with a warm welcome to attendees before handing the floor to Sameer Penakalapati, Founder and CEO of Ceipal. Sameer will set the stage for the day, sharing his perspective on the industry's direction, what that means for navigating firms and teams, and why today's conversations matter more than ever.

Speakers:
- Divya Agarwal, ABM Manager, Ceipal
- Sameer Penkalapati, CEO & Founder, Ceipal

10:10 AM IST | Turn Intelligence into Impact: Smart Hiring Models for a Bumpy and Unpredictable Market

In an environment defined by volatility and margin pressure, staffing leaders must turn data into decisive action. This session explores smarter, more flexible hiring models that help organizations stay agile, control costs, and respond quickly to shifting demand.

Speaker: Manjula Arikeri, Vice President, TASC Outsourcing

Moderator: Gaurav Chopra, Sr. Director of Customer Success, Ceipal

10:55 AM IST | AI At Work: How Leaders Are Scaling Talent Decisions

AI is moving from experimentation to execution across the staffing industry. Learn how forward-looking leaders are using AI to scale decision-making, improve match quality, and drive measurable outcomes across recruiting and workforce management.

Speakers:
- Jay Pokala, Senior Vice President, Enterprise Solutions, Inc.
- Manasvi Shah, Co-founder, Strategy, Ops & Marketing, Go Stack Analytics
- Saurav Lenka, CEO, ObjectWin Technology India Pvt. Ltd - saurav.lenka@objectwin.in

Moderator: Subhash Potturi, Vice President of Strategy & Sales, Ceipal

11:35 AM IST | The GCC Inflection Point: Talent Strategies for the AI Economy

According to People Matters and Ceipal research, 60% of GCCs in India are positioning themselves as AI transformation leaders in 2026. But 64% of GCCs also rate AI transformation as one of their top challenges. The answer to bridging the gap: redesigning talent strategy anchored in skills.

Join us for an insightful fireside chat and discover:
- The critical skill shifts separating GCC leaders from laggards in 2026
- Where GCC hiring is falling short, and which strategies close the gap fastest
- Skilling approaches that actually move the needle on AI readiness
- How to retain and motivate the AI-era talent GCCs can’t afford to lose

Speaker: Cheshta Dora, Head of Research & Content Strategy, People Matters

Moderator: Ashutosh Kumar, Director of Product Management, Ceipal

12:10 PM IST | The GCC 2.0 Playbook: From Cost Center to Strategic Growth Engine

Global Capability Centers are evolving beyond efficiency-driven models to become engines of innovation and business growth. This session explores how leading organizations are rethinking GCC strategy, talent, and technology to drive greater impact, value creation, and competitive advantage.

Speakers:
-
Bhargavi D, Head of Talent Acquisition, Cubic Transportation Systems
- Durgaraje Virendra Bheda, Associate Vice President - IT Staffing, Quess Corp. Ltd.
- Shaakun Khanna, Seinor Advisor, SHRM

Moderator: Gaurav Baid, Sr. Director of Strategic Sales, Ceipal

12:50 PM IST Thank You & Closing Notes

Divya Agarwal closes out Ceipal Connect 2026 with a look back at the day's key themes and a look ahead at what's next. A moment to reflect, reconnect, and leave with something worth bringing back to your team.

Speaker: Divya Agarwal, ABM Manager, Ceipal

Healthcare Staffing
& Recruitment

Hear bold predictions and leadership perspectives on the forces redefining how care teams are built. Sessions examine how innovation is reshaping workforce models, speed-to-fill, and clinician engagement in this new era of healthcare staffing.

9:00 AM ET | CEO Welcome Address

Holly Hunt opens Ceipal Connect 2026 with a warm welcome to attendees before handing the floor to Sameer Penakalapati, Founder and CEO of Ceipal. Sameer will set the stage for the day, sharing his perspective on the industry's direction, what that means for navigating firms and teams, and why today's conversations matter more than ever.

Speakers:
- Holly Hunt, Director of Content, Ceipal
- Sameer Penkalapati, CEO & Founder, Ceipal

9:10 AM ET | Futurecasting: How Leaders Can Shape What Comes Next

The staffing and recruiting industry is facing more simultaneous forces of change than at any point in its history. AI, shifting workforce expectations, economic uncertainty, and evolving client demands are all colliding at once. For leaders, the temptation is to wait and react. But the organizations that will thrive are the ones whose leaders actively shape their future rather than let it happen to them.

In this keynote, Matt Alder introduces his Futurecasting framework, a structured, practical method for cutting through hype and making sense of what comes next. Drawing on lessons from previous industry inflection points, from the internet’s disruption of recruitment to the rise of social media and mobile, Matt will show how leaders can separate real trends from noise and build scenarios that account for genuine uncertainty rather than defaulting to prediction or paralysis.

Attendees will walk away with a repeatable method for anticipating change, a clearer picture of the macro forces reshaping staffing and talent acquisition, and a framework robust enough to win buy-in at the highest levels of their organization.

Speaker: Matt Alder, Host, Recruiting Future podcast

9:50 AM ET | Healing Through Innovation: How Technology and Talent Are Reshaping Healthcare Staffing

Facing an unprecedented hiring crisis, healthcare staffing is rapidly evolving toward tech-driven models that prioritize speed, scale, and resilience. This session explores how staffing leaders are leveraging platforms, AI, and technology to modernize operations and meet growing demand.

Speakers:
- Erick LaGroux, Founder of NextGen & CEO of Vitality Solutions LLC
- Raman Chawda, Director of Recruitment Operations & Client Success, Bestica
- Katherine Emerson, Talent Development Manager, Ardor Health Solutions

Moderator: Scot Goldfarb, Solutions Principal, Ceipal

10:35 AM ET | Predictions for the Next Era of Healthcare Staffing

From workforce dynamics to technology and regulation, the healthcare staffing industry is entering a pivotal new phase. Join industry experts as they share bold predictions and practical insights on what’s next – and how firms can prepare to stay competitive.

Speakers:
-
Steve Curtin, President, Vidle Housing
- Karolina Willis, CEO, Intercare Recruitment

Moderator:
Beth Fenske, Owner, Expert Consultant, NexaCare Consulting

11:15 AM ET | The AI Advantage: Powering the Future of Staffing and Recruiting With Ceipal

AI is no longer just a recruiting tool—it’s a strategic advantage for staffing and recruiting teams navigating constant change. In this keynote session, Ceipal CTO Amar Chadipirala will share how the Ceipal platform is evolving with AI to power smarter decisions, connected workflows, and scalable growth. Explore how forward-thinking teams are leveraging AI-driven technology to build more agile, data-driven, and human-centered talent strategies in 2026 and beyond.

Speaker: Amar Chadipirala, Chief Technology Officer, Ceipal

12:00 PM ET | Closing Keynote: Disruptive Tech, Job Cuts, and the Future of Work: What Happens Now?

AI and automation are reshaping the labor market faster than anyone anticipated — and no one agrees on what it means. Are these technologies creating jobs or eliminating them? The honest answer is: it depends on what happens next.

In this closing keynote, Hank Levine, Chairman of Be Additive, walks through three possible futures — from disruption to opportunity to something in between — and what each one means for workers, employers, and staffing leaders. More importantly, he lays out a practical framework for staying ready no matter which scenario unfolds.

If you're trying to make sense of where technology is taking the workforce, this is the conversation to end on.

Speaker: Hank Levine, Founder & Chairman, Be Additive Tech

12:45 PM ET | Thank You & Closing Notes

Holly Hunt closes out Ceipal Connect 2026 with a look back at the day's key themes and a look ahead at what's next. A moment to reflect, reconnect, and leave with something worth bringing back to your team.

Speaker: Holly Hunt, Director of Content, Ceipal

Smart Solutions With
Essential Hiring Technology

Speakers

We have an all-star lineup of experts speaking at Ceipal Connect 2026. Check out who will be sharing their expertise and thought leadership.

Sameer Penakalapati

Founder & CEO - Ceipal

ceipal

Sameer is a visionary entrepreneur and AI thought leader transforming the future of talent acquisition and workforce automation. With over a decade of experience at the intersection of HR technology and artificial intelligence, he has built and acquired six companies—including staffing firms, AI-powered SaaS platforms, and digital marketing solutions—serving thousands of clients globally.

Matt Alder

Producer & Host - Recruiting Future Podcast

Matt Alder is the host of Recruiting Future, one of the world’s most popular talent acquisition podcasts. With nearly 800 episodes and more than 3 million downloads over the past decade, the show has become essential listening for leaders navigating change in HR and talent acquisition. Over the past 25 years, Matt has built a reputation as a global thought leader, helping employers worldwide harness innovation in talent acquisition.

Saurav Lenka

CEO - ObjectWin Technology India Pvt. Ltd

With over 24 years of professional experience, Saurav currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer at ObjectWin Technology India, where he leads the organization’s strategic direction and focus on year-on-year growth. His work centers on developing new capabilities, exploring emerging markets, and aligning innovative strategies with the organization’s vision and objectives.

Beth Fenske

Owner, Expert Consultant-  NexaCare Consulting

ceipal

Beth brings over 30 years of experience in healthcare, with the last several years dedicated to staffing and Managed Service Provider (MSP) operations. A former owner and operator of a nurse staffing agency, Beth offers a unique and empathetic perspective, advocating for suppliers with firsthand insight. A passionate mentor and advocate for supplier success, Beth is actively involved in promoting diversity, providing one-on-one agency consulting, supporting Joint Commission certification, and leading staff training and development initiatives.

Manjula Arikeri

Vice President - TASC Outsourcing

ceipal

With over a decade at TASC Outsourcing, our team has shaped the recruitment landscape and operational strategy in the region. As VP of Recruitments & India Operations, Manjula has honed skills in Non-IT and Technical Recruiting, mastering the art of talent acquisition and human resources business partnering. Our work reflects a commitment to excellence in employee engagement and talent management, underpinned by a deep understanding of the cultural and operational nuances specific to the Indian market.

Manasvi Shah

Co-Founder, Strategy Ops & Marketing - Gostack

ceipal

Manasvi works closely with founders and leadership teams on the practical side of building and scaling businesses. Her experience spans operations, growth support, internal systems, and brand execution, shaped through roles in high-growth consulting environments and early-stage companies. She's helped scale enterprise accounts, supported the setup of delivery and operating models across the UK and India, and worked on internal platforms and processes to reduce friction as companies grow.

Erick LaGroux

Founder & CEO - Vitality Solutions (previously NextGen MedStaffing)

ceipal

Erick is a healthcare staffing and workforce solutions entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience in sales, recruiting, and business development. He is the Founder and CEO of NextGen MedStaffing, (which is now Vitality Solutions) clinician-driven firm specializing in travel nursing and allied health. He also leads the broader NextGen family of companies, including Vitality Solutions, NextGenWorkForce Solutions, and NextGen MedLogic, Inc, driving innovation, strategic partnerships, and scalable growth across healthcare and workforce solutions.

Raman Chawda

Director Recruitment Operations & Client Success - Bestica

ceipal

With over 15 years of experience in talent acquisition, client interaction, account management, business development, and operation management, Raman is a recruitment specialist at Bestica Inc. and a principal consultant at InfiReex. Raman specializes in all aspects of client building, recruiting and sourcing methodologies, and delivering timely and quality results.

Steve Curtin

President - Vidle Housing

ceipal

Steve is President at Vidle Housing, the only mid-term, fully furnished housing specifically designed for healthcare heroes. Steve is an experienced and strategic marketing executive with a strong background in building large user communities and crafting innovative, authentic user-generated content strategies to drive revenue growth. Steve is proficient in launching and scaling startups, securing private funding, and working with private equity (PE), leading to two successful exits and seamless post-acquisition integrations.

Hank Levine

Founder and Chairman - Be Additive Corporation

ceipal

Hank is a successful CEO and global entrepreneur with expertise in sales, business development, marketing, and general management. He is leading Be Additive Tech, which is building an AI Talent Marketplace for funded startups and growing companies to build their AI teams using flexible offshore contractors that keep quality high and costs low. Hank created the marketing and business strategies for six companies – four of which were acquired for a total of $92 million.

Katherine Emerson

Talent Development Manager - Ardor Health Solutions

ceipal

Katherine Emerson is the Talent Development Manager at Ardor Health Solutions, where she leads recruiter onboarding, continuing education, and large-scale training initiatives for remote teams. With a background in recruiting, training, and staff development, she focuses on transforming complex processes into clear, practical learning experiences that help teams grow with confidence. She's passionate about collaboration and believe the most effective learning happens when it’s built around real human connection.

Karolina Willis

CEO & Founder - Intercare Recruitment

ceipal

Karolina Willis is a highly experienced recruitment professional with 19 years in healthcare recruitment. As CEO and Founder of Intercare Recruitment, she excels in connecting top healthcare talent with leading medical institutions, ensuring an ideal match for both clients and candidates. Since founding Intercare in 2010, Karolina has been recognized for her deep industry insight and successful placements across a range of healthcare roles, from nursing to senior executive positions. Her approach is defined by a commitment to building strong relationships and providing personalized support.

Bhargavi D

Head of Talent Acquisition, India - Cubic Transporation Systems

ceipal

Bhargavi is Head of Talent Acquisition, India at Cubic Transportation Systems.  In the past 10 years, she's built & led Talent Acquisition teams rooted in trust & empowerment, achieving something she deeply cherishes—zero voluntary attrition. Not with incentives, but belief—belief in their potential, their growth, and their value beyond the numbers. Bhargavi is skilled in leading talent acquisition for establishing Global Capability Centers (GCCs) and in rapidly expanding teams from inception to significant scale.

Durgaraje Virendra Bheda

Associate Vice President - Quess Corp. Limited

ceipal

Durgaraje is a business leader and P&L owner with extensive experience in talent acquisition, staff augmentation, account management, success-factor, program management, delivery, product, international and enterprise sales. Currently, she leads the Professional Staffing vertical at Quess IT Staffing, where she's driving growth by increasing revenue, improving margins, volumes and enhancing operational efficiency.

Cheshta Dora

Head of Research & Content Strategy - People Matters

ceipal

Cheshta has 13+ years of experience in research, advisory and business strategy at the intersection of HR, future of work, sustainability, and technology across North America, APAC and ME. An impact-driven professional and a certified sustainability reporting practitioner, Cheshta helps organizations in their sustainable growth and transformation journey by solving complex people and planet challenges.

Shaakun Khanna

Sr. Advisor & Head, Leadership & HR Transformation - SHRM

ceipal

Shaakun is an HR and Leadership Transformation expert with 25+ years of global experience helping organizations, leaders, and teams thrive in the age of disruption. Having held senior leadership roles with Oracle, Gallup, Right Management, IBM KENEXA and SHRM, Shaakun brings a unique blend of corporate leadership, consulting expertise, and thought leadership.

Praneet Singh Sisodiya

Director - Bwise Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

ceipal

Praneet Singh Sisodiya is a seasoned business leader and recruitment strategist with over 20 years of experience in BFSI and Technology. As Founder & CEO of Bwise Solutions Pvt. Ltd., he leads a trusted recruitment and consulting firm, partnering with top organizations to deliver innovative, tech-enabled hiring solutions nationwide.

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